ANDY MORRELL has warned his players they have set the standard which they are now expected to follow in every outing as they look to scale the Skrill Premier standings.

Wrexham head into tonight’s clash against Gateshead at the International Stadium on the back of their first win in seven outings following Friday’s televised victory over Luton Town.

Goals from Andy Bishop and Johnny Hunt earned the much needed win for Wrexham, who hadn’t tasted victory since the opening day of the season against Welling United.

But while the victory was one to savour for the Dragons, it was the manner of the performance which was even more pleasing for Morrell, who insisted it was more of what was expected from his charges.

“We have set our standards,” said Morrell. “But as I said after the game we have not really done anything, we have just won on football match.

“It needs to be like that for the majority of games now and hopefully go on a bit of an unbeaten run and that starts with a tricky game with Gateshead away, but we have got to keep the foot down on the throttle and to exactly the same as we did on Friday night.

“I stressed to them after that its not just because they were on TV against Luton, that doesn’t matter, you’ve still got to go Gateshead and perform exactly the same, so we will be looking to step on the gas again.”

Jay Harris also returned after serving a three match suspension for his straight red card against Hyde.

Morrell did see centre-back Stephen Wright retire from action at half time with a strain to be replaced by Junior N’Tame, and he remains a doubt for tonight’s match, as does Joe Anyinsah and Robbie Evans, while Kevin Thornton is the most likely to miss out through injury.

One other bright note though was the showing of Theo Bailey-Jones who enjoyed an impressive debut.

And the player-boss added the performance against the Hatters was a bit more like the Wrexham he has come to expect during his tenure in charge.

Wrexham FC boss Andy Morrell

Morrell added: “We got the three midfielders back in there, with Johnny (Hunt) as well on the left which gives you a bit more energy in there and with Ashy (Neil Ashton) going back into left-back where he is a bit more comfortable.

“We had two centre-halves who want to play at centre-half, and that is the way our team should look, it has not done because of injuries and suspensions and what-not, but hopefully we can look like more for the next 10 games and we will do okay.

“I think we picked up so many more second balls, we were on to them quicker and we broke the back of their midfield a lot more than we have doing and that gave us much more room to go and play.

“Theo (Bailey-Jones) was a constant threat, I thought Bish (Andy Bishop) had a lot more room, and I think there were 80 second balls to pick up and we picked up 50 of them which puts you on the front foot and that I think helps the strikers.

“But having said that when they (Luton) were on the ball I didn’t think we gave them a minutes peace at the top. Brett (Ormerod) and the other two were in their faces, and forcing them into poor passes and that enabled us to pick up the second balls in midfield, so same again, we have got people that can come in and run around if people are tired, so we are fairly good to go.”

Morrell may well need to look into his squad this week after being scheduled with two long trips over the coming days.

Following tonight’s trek to the north east, Wrexham make the long journey south on Saturday to face Aldershot.

Morrell said: “We will do the same things and have a look at things as they go and speak to the lads and see how they are feeling. We have got a couple of people that can come in and take their place if they are a little low on energy.

“But I am sure when you are winning no-one wants to be left out of the team and that is a good thing, so we will pick a team which we believe will win the game at Gateshead, and then we will plan in the week for the game at Aldershot.

“We’ve had two good training sessions as well, and everyone is fairly bright, and we are not looking any further than Gateshead, and hopefully get something out of the game there and turn to the next one.

“I think we have been fairly bright for a couple of weeks, but to get the result to match is obviously the best news and that kick starts it and then yeah of course there is a bit of a better feeling around the place, but honestly I think it has been pretty good anyway.

“We trained really hard last week and I felt we fully deserved the win the other night and long may it continue.”

Friday’s win elevated Wrexham to 17th in the standings, moving them one place above tonight’s opponents Gateshead. However it is still a far cry from where most expected last season’s beaten play-off finalists to be even after only eight games.

And Morrell admitted the club had ground to make up over the course of the campaign, adding: “We are backs against the wall aren’t we because we are a little bit behind, but you never know in this league, you win a few games and you can soon move up the league, and if you can keep your main big hitters out on the pitch then you have always got a chance.

“We have always started off quite bright and been up towards the top of the table, maybe this is the time where we mess the first bit up and then hopefully get stronger towards the end, maybe, we’ll see.”